Pop Stop

Compiled by Ho Yi / STAFF REPORTER

Nicholas Tse, right, could be risking life and limb over his love for Cecilia Cheung, left.

PHOTO: TAIPEI TIMES

Ever ready to take the piss and cause affront, controversial rapper MC Hotdog (熱狗) has hit a raw nerve again with a song from his new album, which is currently being recorded. Hotdog dedicated the tune called Brokeback Mountain to his “good friends” in showbiz which include boy band Yuan Chi G-Boys (元氣G-Boys), cosmetic business guru Niu Erh (牛爾) and TV host Kevin Tsai (蔡康永), the only openly gay celebrity on the list.

Of course, the gay rumor has affected dozens of entertainment personalities and has been frequently aired in the media, but Hotdog's insinuation, or apparent outing, takes the speculation to a new level.

“I think what MC Hotdog did is OK, but personally I won't push people to come out of the closet,” Tsai was quoted as saying, while the boy band's agent admitted that the letter G in the group's name could be confusing.

Maybe the song is just wishful thinking on Hotdog's part. Wink. Wink.

Kung-fu master Donnie Yen (甄子丹) from China is a tough guy who couldn't care less about making enemies; this time it's Jackie Chan (成龍) and Jet Li (李連杰).

Recently interviewed by the Hong Kong press, Yen mentioned he would like to have a good hand-to-hand fight with Li. But as for Chan, “He is getting old so his reaction is getting slower too,” Yen said, blurting out an open secret that everyone knows but dares not mention in public.

Earlier this year when Yen was invited to hold a speech about martial arts at Peking University (北京大學), he said he would never preach in his films. Direct translation: the patriotic grand finale in Fearless (霍元甲) is just plain silly.

Internationally acclaimed art director Tim Yip (葉錦添) knows the art of diplomacy when it comes to subtle criticism. Here in Taipei to promote The Banquet (夜宴) by Chinese director Feng Xiaogang (馮小剛) last weekend, Yip was asked his opinion on Ang Lee's choice of ABT singer Wang Lee-hom (王力宏) to play the role of the young Chinese intellectual in Lust Caution (色戒), Lee's next project.

Striking an equivocal note, Yip said Lee's selection was “a very courageous and daring decision to make.”

Hong Kong stars Cecilia Cheung (張柏芝) and Nicholas Tse (謝霆鋒) are back together and welcomed the paparazzi to capture every moment of their happiness by sticking to each other day and night. But, according to Hong Kong press, more than one fortuneteller has divined the love as ill fated, and cautioned that Tse risks his life if the pair tries to defy fate and insists on being together.

In a dramatic gesture, Tse came across as a tragic hero when he told the media that he was willing to die for his love. Is Tse a true romantic or just a guy who watches too many soppy movies?

David Tao's (陶吉吉) battle against gossip hounds swung into full action this week as he issued a statement blaming local media for focusing on his love life rather than his new album Too Beautiful (太美麗).

The debacle began with a recent interview on the TV show Here Comes Kang and Xi (康熙來了) in which he alluded to having broken up with his long-term girlfriend and openly complimented Selina of girl band S.H.E.

What followed were full-page spreads in gossip rags on Tao's past and present romances, which enraged the crooner. But the well-known playboy of the showbiz firmament wants the media to go easy on his love life. Fat chance.

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